Hand-held copying apparatus

ABSTRACT

A copying apparatus for portable type having an image reader for reading an image of a document, a memory for storing image data obtained by the image reader, a printer for printing out the image of the document read out by the image reader according to the image data stored in the memory and a processor for controlling the image reader and the printer wherein upper and lower blank lines are searched for with respect to each of partial images divided from the whole image stored in the memory. Image data, except for the image data existing in an area defined between the upper and lower blank lines which have been found by respective blank line search, are erased upon printing.

This application is a divisional of copending application Ser. No.340,770, filed on Apr. 20, 1989, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,931,880.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a copying apparatus of portable typewhich is able to print out one or more lines by picking up or extractingthe lines from a text that has been read by the portable copyingapparatus.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In the Japanese patent laid open publication (JP-A) No. 102466/1988,there is disclosed a copying apparatus of portable type capable ofprinting one or more lines extracted from lines which have been read byan image reader.

FIGS. 13 to 16 show the manner of printing of this copying apparatus.

When an area p of a document is read by scanning the copying apparatusin a direction P manually as shown in FIG. 13, a document image p asshown in FIG. 14 is obtained. When the document image p is obtained, ablank line having no data to be printed therealong is searched fordownwardly from the upper edge UE of the document image p.

When the first blank line is found, as indicated by "a" in FIG. 14, animage portion existing above the first blank line a is erased.Thereafter, the search for the blank line is done upwardly from thelower edge LE of the document image p. An image portion existing belowthe first blank line b found is also erased. Thus, only the central lineimage is printed out as shown in FIG. 16.

In another method for erasing unnecessary images, as shown in FIG. 15, ablank line is searched for from the center image line CL of the documentimage upwardly and an image portion existing above the first blank lineu is erased. Similarly, an image portion existing below the first blankline d found by the downward search is erased. According to this method,only the central image line is printed out as shown in FIG. 16.

However, it is not easy to manually move the copying apparatus parallelto image lines of a document. If the copying apparatus is moved in ameandering direction as indicated by a line Q in FIG. 17, such adocument image q as shown in FIG. 18 is obtained inconveniently. In thiscase, it becomes impossible to search for blank lines since they aremeandering in the read document image q. Thus, it is impossible to printout only the central image line by the conventional portable copyingapparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An essential object of the present invention is to provide a copyingapparatus of portable type capable of printing only one or more centralimage lines of a document image having been read even if the copyingapparatus is moved in a meandering manner.

In order to achieve the object of the present invention, there isprovided a copying apparatus comprising: an image reading means forreading an image of a portion of a document and generating dot imagescorresponding to the image having been read; a memory means for storingdot images obtained by said image reading means; an image division meansfor dividing the stored image into partial images in a direction ofprint; an image extraction means for extracting only a central portionto be printed out with respect to each of said divided partial images bydetecting a pair of blank lines between which said central portion isdefined; and a print means for printing out said central portions ofsaid divided partial images.

According to the present invention, the area of the image having beenread by the image reading means and stored in the memory means isdivided into plural image areas and in every partial image area, acentral image portion is found by the image extraction means. The printmeans prints out only central image portions having been extracted bythe image extraction means.

When the copying apparatus is moved in a meandering manner, it becomesimpossible or difficult to find blank lines in a whole document imagehaving been read. However, since the whole document image is dividedinto partial images according to the present invention, blank lines canbe easily found in every partial image. Thus, the central portion of thedocument image is surely reproduced even if the copying apparatus ismoved in a meandering manner.

It is to be noted that the present invention is also effective forcopying a document having meandering image lines as shown in FIG. 18,since the central meandering line or lines can be surely extractedaccording to the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

These and other objects and features of the present invention willbecome more apparent when a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention is described in detail with reference to the accompanyingdrawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are notlimitative of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a portable copying apparatus according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the portable copying apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the processing for extracting a centralportion of a document image read out;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the subroutine for checking blank lines shownin FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an example of a document image read when the copying apparatusis moved in a meandering manner;

FIG. 6 is an example of a method for dividing the document image shownin FIG. 5 and for searching for blank lines;

FIG. 7 is an example of a copy obtained by the preferred embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 8 is another example of the method for searching blank lines;

FIG. 9 is an example of a document image divided into partial imageswithout any overlap between two adjacent partial images;

FIG. 10 is another example of the division into partial images which areoverlapped between two adjacent partial images;

FIG. 11 is another example of the method for searching for blank linescorresponding to the example shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 us another example of the method for searching for blank linescorresponding to the example shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is an example of a document image to be read by a portablecopying apparatus;

FIG. 14 is an explanatory view for showing a conventional method forpicking up a central portion of the document image having been read;

FIG. 15 is an explanatory view for showing another conventional methodfor extracting a central portion of the document image having, beenread;

FIG. 16 is an example of a copy obtained according to the conventionalmethod as shown in FIGS. 14 or 15;

FIG. 17 is an explanatory view for showing a manner of operation of thecopying apparatus; and

FIG. 18 is an example of a copy obtained according to the conventionalmethod when the copying apparatus is moved in the meandering manner asshown in FIG. 17.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a portable copying apparatus accordingto a preferred embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 2 shows aperspective view of the portable copying apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 1 schematically, the portable copying apparatus 1 iscomprised of an image sensor 2 for partially reading an image of adocument G to obtain electrical dot image data corresponding thereto, amicroprocessor 3 for controlling the copying apparatus as a whole, a RAM(Random Access Memory) means 4 for storing the image data obtained bythe image sensor 2, a printer means 5 for printing out an image of adocument in accordance with image data processed by and sent from themicroprocessor 3, a ROM (Read Only Memory) means 6 for storing programsto be executed by the microprocessor 3 and a pitch sensor 7 forgenerating timing signals upon reading a document or printing an imageof the document.

As shown in FIG. 2, the copying apparatus 1 is operated manually on adocument G in order to read an image of the document G.

The microprocessor 3 controls all of means 2, 4, 5 and 6 of the copyingapparatus 1 according to programs stored in the ROM 6. Among theseprograms, only programs related to the subject matter of the presentinvention will be explained hereinafter referring to flow charts shownin FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a program for extracting a central portion ofa document image read by the image sensor 2.

When this program is started, the document image read by manuallyscanning the copying apparatus 1 is divided into partial images at stepS1.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a document image q read by moving the copyingapparatus on the document G in a meandering manner and FIG. 6 shows amethod for dividing the document image into partial images. In thisexample, the whole area of the document image q is divided into fourareas B₁ to B₄ in the lengthwise direction thereof. The width of each ofthe four areas B₁ to B₄ are not necessarily equal to each other. Also,the number of division is not limited to four.

Next, the first divided area B₁ of the document image q is selected,which is the first area seen in the direction of print, at step S2. Thena downward search for finding a blank line is started from the upperedge of the first area B₁ at step S3 in order to check or search for ablank line which might be included therein at step S4. The flow chart ofthe subroutine S4 is shown in FIG. 4.

In this subroutine S4, it is checked whether or not a presentlydesignated line is a blank line.

Namely, the first bit of the designated line is selected at step R1 andit is checked at step R2 whether or not the first bit is zero. If it iszero, the next bit is selected at step R4 in order to check whether ornot it is zero at step R2. Thus, this check loop is repeatedsequentially until a bit equal to one is found. If no bit equal to oneis found from the first bit to the last bit of the present line (at stepR3), the present line is determined as a blank line at step R6. If a bitequal to one is found at step R2, the process advances to step R5 andthe present line is determined not to be a blank line.

Returning to the flow chart of FIG. 3, when the blank line check of oneline is completed at step S4, it is checked whether or not the checkedline is a blank line at step S5. If it is not a blank line, the processreturns to step S4 after selecting the next line at step S6.

If the line is decided to be a blank line at step S5, the processadvances to step S8 and all image data existing between the upper edgeand the blank line (See a₁ of FIG. 6) in the first area B₁ is cleared(erased) at step of S7.

Next, the blank line check is started from the lower edge upwardly atstep S8 and is executed by repeating steps from step S9 to step S11 in asimilar manner to than of step S4 to step S6.

When a blank line is found at step S10, all image data existing betweenthe blank line (See b₁ of FIG. 6) and the lower edge in the first areaB₁ is cleared or erased.

Then, the second partial image is selected at step S14 and the processreturns to step S3 in order to find the upper and lower blank lines a₂and b₂ (See FIG. 6) in the second area B₂ and to delete image dataexisting above the upper blank line a₂ and below the lower blank lineb₂.

The processing similar to the above is repeated with respect to thethird and fourth partial image areas B₃ and B₄.

When the processing regarding the fourth partial image area B₄ iscompleted, all unnecessary image data is deleted or erased and onlycentral image data remains in the RAM 4, as shown in FIG. 7.

Accordingly, the printer 5 prints out only the central image accordingto the image data remaining in the RAM 4.

As shown in FIG. 8, the blank line check can be executed starting from acenter line l of the document image q upwardly and downwardly. In thiscase, it is also possible to extract only necessary image data bysearching upper blank lines u₁ to u₄ and lower blank lines d₁ to d₄ asshown in FIG. 8.

Assuming an extraordinary case wherein character images are read in adiscrete manner as shown in FIG. 9, a fraction of a character asindicated by α therein cannot be erased even by the erasing method asexplained above referring to FIG. 6.

In order to solve this problem, it is desirable to divide the wholedocument image r into four areas from B₁ ' to B₄ ', each of which ispartially overlapped with an adjacent area, as shown in FIG. 10. Thefraction indicated by α is erased when the blank line check for thethird area B₃ ' is executed, as is easily understood from FIG. 10.

Contrary to the above, in the case that the method for blank line checkas explained in FIG. 8 is employed, a fraction β of a capital letter "C"is erased inconveniently as shown in FIG. 11. However, this problem isalso solved by dividing the whole image area r into four areas B₁ ' toB₄ ' partially overlapped with each other, as is easily understood fromFIG. 12.

Accordingly, it is desirable to set respective areas so as to partiallyoverlap with each other upon dividing the whole document image.

The preferred embodiments described herein are illustrative and notlimitative, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appendedclaims and all variations which come within the meanings of the claimsare intended to be embraced herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of copying an image from a writtendocument comprising the steps of:reading the image of a portion of thewritten document, with an image reading means, and generating dot imagescorresponding to said image having been read; storing in a memory means,dot images obtained by said image reading means; dividing said storeddot images into partial images in a direction of print; extracting onlya central portion of said divided partial images by detecting a pair ofblank lines between which said central portion is defined; and printingout said central portions of said divided partial images.
 2. The methodof copying an image as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said partialimages is divided so as to partially overlap with an adjacent partialimage in the print direction.
 3. The method of copying an image asclaimed in claim 1 wherein said image has an upper edge and a lower edgeand a plurality of lines located sequentially therebetween, saiddetecting of said pair of blank lines comprising detecting as an upperblank line a first blank line of said plurality of lines locatedsequentially downward from said upper edge of said image and detectingas a lower blank line a first blank line of said plurality of lineslocated sequentially upward from said lower edge of said image.
 4. Themethod of copying an image as claimed in claim 1 wherein said image hasan upper edge and a lower edge, a plurality of lines locatedsequentially therebetween, and a center line, said detecting of saidpair of blank lines comprising detecting as an upper blank line a firstblank line of said plurality of lines located sequentially upward fromsaid center line and detecting as a lower blank line a first blank lineof said puerility of lines locate sequentially downward from said centerline.
 5. The method of copying an image as claimed in claim 2 whereineach of said overlapping adjacent partial images respectively has anupper edge and a lower edge and a plurality of lines locatedsequentially therebetween, said extracting comprising detecting acorresponding pair of blank lines for each of said overlapping adjacentpartial images comprising detecting as an upper blank line a first blankline of said plurality of lines located sequentially downward from thecorresponding upper edge of a respectively overlapping adjacent partialimage and detecting as a lower blank line a first blank line of saidplurality of lines located sequentially upward from the correspondinglower edge of the respective overlapping adjacent partial image.
 6. Themethod of copying an image as claimed in claim 2 wherein each of saidoverlapping adjacent partial images respectively has an upper edge and alower edge, a plurality of lines located sequentially therebetween, anda center line, said extracting comprising detecting a corresponding pairof blank lines for each of said overlapping adjacent partial imagescomprising detecting as an upper blank line a first blank line of saidplurality of lines located sequentially upward from the correspondingcenter line of a respective overlapping adjacent partial image anddetecting as a lower blank line a first blank line of said plurality oflines located sequentially downward from the corresponding center lineof said respective overlapping adjacent partial image.
 7. A copyingapparatus comprising:image reading means for reading an image of aportion of a document and generating dot images corresponding to saidimage having been read; memory means for storing dot images obtained bysaid image reading means; image division means for dividing said storeddot images into overlapping partial images so as to partially overlapwith an adjacent partial image in a direction of print; image extractionmeans for extracting only a central portion to be printed out withrespect to each of said divided overlapping partial images by detectinga respective pair of blank lines between which said central portion isdefined; and print means for printing out said central portions of saiddivided overlapping partial images, each of said divided overlappingpartial images has an upper edge and a lower edge and a plurality oflines located sequentially therebetween, each of said detectedrespective pairs of blank lines comprising an upper blank line and alower blank line, said upper blank line a first blank line of saidplurality of lines located sequentially downward from an upper edge of arespective divided overlapping partial image and said lower blank line afirst blank line of said plurality of lines located sequentially upwardfrom a lower edge of said respective divided overlapping partial image.8. The copy apparatus of claim 7 which is portable for use as ahand-held copier.
 9. A copying apparatus comprising:image reading meansfor reading an image of a portion of a document and generating dotimages corresponding to said image having been read; memory means forstoring dot images obtained by said image reading means; image divisionmeans for dividing said stored dot images into overlapping partialimages so as to partially overlap with an adjacent partial image in adirection of print; image extraction means for extracting only a centralportion to be printed out with respect to each of said dividedoverlapping partial images by detecting a respective pair of blank linesbetween which said central portion is defined; and print means forprinting out said central portions of said divided overlapping partialimages, each of said divided overlapping partial images has an upperedge and a lower edge and a plurality of lines located sequentiallytherebetween, and a central line, each of said detected respective pairsof blank lines comprising an upper blank line and a lower blank line,said upper blank line a first blank line of said plurality of lineslocated sequentially upward from a respective center line of arespective divided overlapping partial image and said lower blank line afirst blank line of said plurality of lines located sequentiallydownward from said respective center line.
 10. The copying apparatus ofclaim 9 which is portable for use as a hand-held copier.